Police officers in Uzbekistan has detained two government officials in separate regions on suspicion of corruption linked to land allocation.

In the first case, uncovered in Surkhandarya Region, the deputy governor of Jarkurgan district is accused of abusing his authority by demanding 90 million soums ($7,385) in exchange for arranging a four-month lease of nine hectares of reserve land to a farmer from Sherabad district for growing melons, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Investigators say the official received 30 million soums ($2,461) in January 2026 and was detained in Termez while taking the remaining 60 million soums ($4,923). A criminal case has been opened under Article 210 (Bribery), and the suspect has been placed in custody.

The second case took place in Namangan Region, where an assistant to the governor of Chust district was detained during a neighborhood citizens’ meeting. Authorities say he promised to formalize ownership of part of a land plot in a small industrial zone for $23,000. He was caught while receiving $10,000. A criminal case has been launched on charges of large-scale fraud, and the investigation is ongoing.